Representing the Samburu
People of Northern Kenya

Council head office in MaralalKenya is divided into provinces; currently they are
eight in number each headed by provincial commissioners. Each province is
further sub-divided into units called districts and still further divided
into locations and sub-locations. It is a multi-party democratic country
now having been a one-party state since independence. The Samburu County
council was founded to promote and Administer the land and peoples of the
Samburu region.The members control the preservation of wildlife, the creation
of income for managing existing and future projects and protect the native
indigenous populace
The County Councils holds in trust on behalf of the local community the
trust lands (unregistered land). Working with the wildlife service and private
and government agencies to manage a sustainable ecosystem and bestow philanthropic
benefits on the people of the
Samburu District, land has been demarcated and subdivided into group ranches
and to a lesser degree con-opted to private ownership. The changing pattern
of land tenure has had many implications for mixed land use. With more of
the land falling into the care of group ranches and private ownership. The
more flexible communal uses of this land being Safari accommodation and
traditional craft creation.

SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE PERSONNEL

There are 90 personnel working for Samburu National reserve of which 60
are Game rangers. The others are drivers, revenue clerks, secretary and
labourers.
The ranger force comprises:- senior warden, warden, assistant wardens, S/Sergeant,
Sergeant, CPL and the field rangers. They undergo paramilitary training
together with KWS personnel and the officers {wardens} Together with the
same courses as KWS wardens in National and International colleges and universities.
These study centres include: College of African Wildlife Management (MWEKA)
Tanzania, Southern African Wildlife College in South Africa, KWS Naivasha
Institute Kenya, University of Kent UK and many others.

Benefits to communities from the Samburu County
Council

Samburu County Council is the local district council for
Samburu District, which is administered by the Ministry of Local Government.
Samburu County Council generates 90% of its revenue from Samburu National
reserve, which goes directly for use in various community development programmes
in the entire Samburu District. It pays staff salaries and funds the management
of Samburu National reserve. Samburu County Council has 250 members of staff
of which 90 are working in the game reserve.
Samburu County Council is composed of various departments including Administration,
Treasury, Education, Water, Social Services, Public Health, Veterinary,
Works, Wildlife (Samburu National reserve ) and Marketing department. These
departments run different poverty reduction programmes toward communities
living in the District.

The council provides services to the communities
including employment, bursaries to secondary schools, colleges and universities;
employing teachers for the communities (adult education, nursery schools
and nomadic classes for the herdsmen). The council also has a social services
department and veterinary department. They allocate contracts, assist schools,
health institutions and community projects.